Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric after past Osama bin Laden praise surfaces

Bush reflects on post-9/11 response as 25th anniversary approaches George W. Bush recalled visiting a mosque six days after 9/11, declaring "Islam is peace" to protect Muslim Americans facing harassment across the country. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Archbishop of Canterbury's office has withdrawn an interfaith award given to a Muslim cleric after past comments surfaced in which he praised Osama bin Laden. Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi received the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation at Lambeth Palace last Friday, during a ceremony that coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Lambeth Palace announced the reversal Thursday after previous comments "come to light," causing it to reconsider the award. "It is a longstanding principle of interfaith dialogue and co-operation that we must engage with one another across deeply-held differences, and that remains the case," Lambeth Palace said in a statement. DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Britain's new Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, Sarah Mullally, speaks following the announcement of her posting, at Canterbury Cathedral in southeast England on Oct. 3, 2025. (Ben Stansall/AFP via ) During the award presentation last week, the Archbishop's office said Ashrafi was being honored for "his outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan, known for his commitment to promoting religious tolerance." Michael Sinkewicz is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael. sinkewicz@fox. com